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College Spotlight-Purdue University

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Successful Indiana colleges have three things in common: a strong agricultural program, a powerhouse basketball team, and a conservative student body. Purdue University has all of these—plus one of the nation’s strongest engineering programs, and the distinction of having awarded more bachelor’s degrees in the field than any other institution. Purdue is also home to the nation’s first computer science department, and its programs in pharmacy, nursing, and management are likewise strong. Budding classicists, dramatists, and vocalists probably should look elsewhere, as liberal arts are not Purdue’s forte. But those seeking small-school friendliness with big-school spirit may be very happy here. “There are so many opportunities for a student to get involved,” explains a junior.

Purdue is the main attraction in the small industrial town of West Lafayette, where the population triples when students return each fall. The campus features redbrick and limestone buildings arranged around lush shaded courtyards. Recent construction includes Merriott Hall and the France A. Cordova Recreational Sports Center.

Students apply to and enroll in one of Purdue’s 10 schools, and academic requirements vary with the school and the major. Typically, they include English, math, a lab science, and perhaps speech or foreign language proficiency. Engineering is the most popular program, followed by biology, management, computer science, and health and kinesiology. Students flock to the five-year engineering co-op program, one of the most competitive on campus, because it marries classroom study with real-world work. Purdue also offers a strong undergraduate program in flight technology, which includes hands-on training at the university’s own airport. Purdue has produced more than 20 astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Gus Grissom. Also strong are programs in veterinary medicine and hospitality and tourism. Study abroad options are available at over 200 sites in more than 50 countries.

Purdue students are focused on life after graduation; a senior says, “The engineering programs teach tools for problem solving that are directly applicable to skills needed on the job. Plus, there are lots of opportunities for paid research, internships, or cooperative education.” And despite the university’s size, about half of freshman classes are seminar-style, taught by graduate students and academic advisors who help answer students’ questions and provide career advice. “The teaching is great,” says a student. “Our professors really care and want us to excel so they are very helpful.”

Purdue’s student body is fairly homogeneous, with 58 percent from Indiana, 3 percent African American, 5 percent Asian American, and 4 percent Hispanic. Boilermaker pride does stretch across boundaries of race, gender, and socioeconomic background. Thousands of merit scholarships averaging more than $6,342 are awarded annually to qualified students; athletes vie for hundreds of scholarships.

Thirty-five percent of students live in Purdue’s dorms; the numbers may be so low because of rules governing male and female visitation hours. (The notion of a “co-ed dorm” here means that both sexes share a dining hall and a lobby.) Almost all freshmen live on campus, though they aren’t required to, and Harrison Hall is said to be a good pick for newbies. “The residence halls are very nice,” says a student, thanks to “decent room sizes, new furniture, and a great social environment.” Most upperclassmen find inexpensive housing just off campus, where walking and riding escorts, blue-light phones, and more than 40 campus police officers help them feel safe. Those with a grumbling stomach are treated to tasty options on campus. “Our food is the best,” says an elementary education major. 

 Overall, Greek life draws 18 percent of Purdue men and women and offers many social opportunities. But there are other options, too, says an animal science major, including football, basketball, soccer, and baseball games. “Outside of class, you can do anything from skydiving, paintball, choir, rock climbing, salsa dancing—anything. It’s up to you,” encourages a senior mechanical engineering major. Purdue’s more than 900 organizations range from the BBQ society to professional development clubs.

As far as college towns go, West Lafayette “would not exist if it weren’t for Purdue,” one student says. Another adds, “This is a college town that has everything you need within walking distance.” As far as community service goes, Purdue students tend to find the “various options very rewarding.” “But they should do more,” complains one sophomore. Chicago and Indianapolis are favored weekend destinations for students with cars, and each spring, a week of fun and parties leads up to the Grand Prix go-cart races. Students also look forward to the Bug Bowl, an annual celebration sponsored by Purdue’s entomology department, including cricket-spitting and cockroach races.

Purdue’s athletic facility offers opportunities for weekend warriors and varsity athletes alike. Boilermaker pride manifests itself at Division I games of all types, especially when the opposing team is Indiana University, known derisively as “that school down south,” in the annual struggle for the Old Oaken Bucket. Every year, the winner adds a link to a chain on the bucket, in the shape of either an “I” or “P.” Women’s volleyball and softball and men’s and women’s basketball are among the most popular sports on campus. The baseball team brought home a Big Ten Conference title in 2012. Thirty-five club sports and 38 intramurals are a big draw for those looking for friendly competition.

A strategic plan developed several years ago has Purdue focused on reaching “the next level of preeminence,” through discovery, learning, and engagement—adding more professors and scholarship funding and decreasing the number of teaching assistants. What the happy students here have already discovered is that learning is fun when academics are mixed with a healthy dose of school spirit and general carousing. “The students here are all highly motivated and hard workers,” says one senior. “We’re also friendly and supportive to each other because there’s the feeling that we are all in it together.”

Deadlines & Requirements

Purdue: Regular admissions: Mar. 1. Application fee: $50. No campus or alumni interviews. Apply to particular schools or programs. SATs or ACTs: required. Subject Tests: optional. Essay question.

Profile

  • Location:Small City
  • Total Enrollment:34,851
  • Undergraduates:28,717
  • Male/Female:58/42
  • SAT Ranges:CR 510–620
                                M 550–680
  • ACT Range:24–30
  • Financial Aid:57%
  • Expense:Public $$
  • Student Loans:54%
  • Average Debt:$$$
  • Phi Beta Kappa:Yes
  • Applicants:30,903
  • Accepted:61%
  • Enrolled:33%
  • Grad in 6 Years:70%
  • Returning Freshmen:91%

Overlap Schools 

  • Indiana University
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign

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